4. CHAPTER 4
The alarm clock struck eight, and the house opened the blackout drapes, allowing the morning light to stream through the vast windows of Alex’s bedroom, heralding the start of a new day. Usually, Alex would’ve awoken with a stretch and lay in his bed, savoring five more minutes between the sheets before climbing out of bed. But today, he woke to a pounding headache and a throbbing pain in his hand—a stark reminder of the previous day’s events.
Daniella was right. I overdid things last night.Alex hit the screaming alarm and pulled a pillow over his head to block out the sun. He immediately regretted using two hands as pain seared through his broken one. He was about to fish for the remote to close the blinds, as this light was making his headache worse, when his bedroom door banged open.
“Knock, knock, and wakey, wakey!” Harriet’s cheery voice was muffled by the pillow over his face. “Are you trying to commit suicide by smothering yourself?”
“Why are you so cheery?” Alex muttered through the pillow.
Harriet pulled the pillow from his face, and the unmistakable aroma of freshly brewed coffee and breakfast filled his nostrils.
“Agh! What are you doing?” Alex’s brow creased, and he squinted, trying to fight back the sun, which was sending hot rays of pain into his eyes and aggravating his pounding head.
“I’ve been up for hours,” Harriet informed him, her tone laced with concern as she noticed his pained expression. “You look terrible.”
“You know not everyone jumps out of bed looking like they’d just walked off the cover of a glitzy magazine, Princess!“ Alex grabbed for another pillow, stopping before he pulled it over his face. “Did you make breakfast?”
“I did!” Harriet nodded.
“Are you trying to poison me?” Alex raised his eyebrows. “Because I can assure you I think my head is trying to kill me today, and the sun is helping it.”
“Here…” Harriet disappeared from staring down at him for a few seconds before popping back into his vision. “Take these Mr. Grumpy Pants.”
“You know you have great nostrils!” Alex stared up at her before attempting to sit up. His movements were sluggish as he cradled his injured hand.
“Thank you?” Harriet held out the lid from the ibuprofen bottle with two tablets in it. “That’s just what every woman wants to hear.”
“I meant your nose is perfect, especially for someone who never had a nose job.” Alex took the pills and put them in his mouth, swallowing them with some water
Harriet positioned the tray laden with coffee and breakfast on his lap.
“I suggest you try to eat something,” Harriet said.
Harriet took a mug of steaming coffee from the tray before climbing onto the other side of the bed and stretching her long legs in front of her as she got comfortable.
“This is quite good!” Alex looked at the poached eggs, wholewheat toast, and perfectly cooked bacon. “Did you order this?”
“No!” she scrunched up her face and gave him a scathing look. “Contrary to popular belief, not only do I know how to cook, but I enjoy it sometimes.”
“I like how you added the sometimes at the end there.“ Alex picked at the toast. He wasn’t feeling good, but he forced himself to take a bite. “Did you make the butter yourself, too, as it’s perfect?”
“Sure.” Harriet nodded. “I was up at the crack of dawn milking a cow and churning butter.”
“Oh, is that why you’ve been up for hours!” Alex teased, grinning through the pain it caused as smiling really was making his face ache. “And when did I get a cow?”
“But the butter is farm-fresh butter from a little farm I found just outside of town that sells farm-to-table produce. It’s all organic, too,” Harriet told him.
“You get organic cows?” Alex held up his injured hand when he saw Harriet grab a heavy ornamental pillow from the floor on the side of her bed. “Injured, remember. You can’t hit me right now, as that would be just as bad as taking candy from a baby.” He gave her a smug smile. “Oh, wait. That’s a bad example because you have no qualms about taking candy from a baby.”
“That was one time!” Harriet said in frustration. “And I wasn’t taking it from the little brat. I was reclaiming the candy he stole from me after letting him have the first few he stole.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Princess.” Alex picked up the coffee just in case she tried to wallop him with a pillow.
“That’s it!” Harriet put the mug on the bedside table and started to slide off the bed. “You can sit here and eat alone.”
“No!” Alex pleaded. “I’m sorry. Don’t go. I’m sick.”
“I’m only staying because I owe you,” Harriet told him.
“For the time you got food poisoning, and I held your hair back while you threw up for hours,” Alex asked innocently. “Or the time when you cut your toe open on the rocks when I warned you to put booties on, and I ruined my favorite t-shirt, stopping the bleeding and then nearly pulled my back out carrying you to the car when you fainted from the sight of your blood.”
“It was a lot of blood!“ Harriet said defensively. “And I’ve already paid you back for all those times.”
“Oh, right,” Alex nodded. “You mean when you pushed me overboard while we were cruising in the Bahamas and then jumped in to save me?”
“No!” Harriet corrected him. “You fell overboard and pulled me with you.”
“Oh yeah!” Alex remembered. “But do you remember why I fell?”
“You slipped on ice that someone had accidentally dropped from their drink.” Harriet pursed her lips, trying not to laugh.
“And who dropped the ice?” Alex asked her.
“It was an accident!“ Harriet snorted. “And you didn’t have to pull me with you.”
“I just grabbed the first thing I could as I went overboard,” Alex told her. “That just happened to be you.”
“Yes, you big lug, you nearly drowned both of us.” Harriet laughed and shook her head.
“This breakfast is great.” Alex gave her a weak smile, lying his head back against the headboard. “But I’m not hungry.”
“That’s okay. You ate some of the bacon and toast.” Harriet’s voice was once again ladened with concern as she looked at him. She slid off the bed and walked around to his side, taking the tray and putting it on the dresser. “Why don’t you lie down and sleep?”
She found the remote and closed the drapes.
“Thanks, Harry.” Alex sighed, sliding down under the covers.
“I’ll check on you later,” Harriet said.
She pulled the covers up around him. As Alex closed his eyes, Harriet’s cool hand touched his forehead.
“You feel a bit warm,” she said.
“Nah!” Alex muttered as he started to drift off. “It’s just a headache. I’ll be fine after a bit more sleep.”
As he let his dreams take him, he could hear Daniella’s soft voice calling to him. Alex turned to find her, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Alex,” Daniella called to him again. “Alex?”
He could feel her soft touch on his face, but he couldn’t see her. “Daniella?” Alex called to her.
“Alex!” Her voice got louder, and she shook him.
Alex’s eyes flew open, and Dawn was staring down at him. “Oh, there you are.”
“Dawn?” Alex looked at her, confused. “Where’s Daniella?”
“She left about three hours ago,” Dawn told him, frowning. “Do you remember her being here? Because you were pretty out of it when she came to check on you.”
“Why was Daniella here?” Alex’s mouth was dry, but his headache had dulled, and his hand was on fire. “Is there water?”
“Here.” Dawn picked up a bottle from beside his bed and helped him up. “Sip it, don’t glug.”
“Thanks.” Alex cleared his throat, lay back, and looked at the clock beside his bed. How could Daniella have left two hours ago when it’s only eleven?” He looked at Dawn in confusion. “I went back to sleep at about eight-thirty.”
“Alex, it’s eleven in the evening!” Dawn’s words startled him, and he looked at her bewildered. “Daniella has been here twice today already, and we’ve had to check in with her every hour about your condition.”
“What are you talking about?” Alex tried to sit up, but Dawn stopped him.
“Don’t!” Dawn said, picking up an infrared thermometer. “I have to take your temperature and pulse.”
“Why?” Alex rubbed his eyes, glancing at his injured hand. His eyes widened when he saw that a bandaged splint had replaced his cast. “What the heck?” He glanced at Dawn questioningly. “Have I woken up in a different dimension or something?”
“You had a fever,” Dawn explained. “When I got here, Harriet was on the phone with Daniella, who came out right away. Your hand was so swollen it looked like a blister.”
“What?” Alex shook his head, wondering if he was still dreaming. That’s when he noticed his bed covers had been changed. “What the…” He looked beneath the blankets. “Did someone change my clothes?”
“Harley!” Dawn told him. “You were drenched in sweat, and Daniella insisted you were sponged down. Your clothes changed twice today.” She grinned at him. “Don’t worry. Wally and Harley were the only people in the room.”
“Why don’t I remember that?” Alex pinched the bridge of his nose and then narrowed his eyes at Dawn. “Are you joking with me?”
“Nope!” Dawn shook her head. “You can speak to Harley and Wally if you don’t believe me.”
“Why did I have a fever?” Alex asked.
“Because you had a small cut just below your index finger on your injured hand that became infected. Probably from when you got your hand wet in the pool of seawater last night,” Daniella’s voice came from the door, and his heart jolted when he saw her walk toward him. “I see you’re lucid.”
“And wishing I wasn’t,” Alex admitted, feeling foolish. He was Alex Blackwell, and he didn’t get fevers. “I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
“How is being sick causing trouble?” Daniella asked him, looking at Dawn’s temperature. “That’s come down nicely. Thank you, Dawn.”
“Of course.” Dawn looked at Alex. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m a bit hungry,” Alex realized as a hunger pang shot through his stomach.
“You can have some broth and crackers,” Daniella told him. “Take in plenty of fluids. Like water, electrolytes, and herbal tea.”
“Harriet is making broth now,” Dawn added. “I’ll go see if it’s ready.”
“Thank you.” Alex gave Dawn a weak smile before she turned and disappeared. He looked at Daniella. “Have I really been out the whole day?”
Daniella nodded. “You have.” Her eyes darkened. “I’m so sorry, Alex. I should’ve seen that cut.”
“It’s not your fault,” Alex told her. “I didn’t even feel the cut. Besides, you weren’t the one who cast the cast. How could you have seen it?”
“I examined your hand,” Daniella pointed out. “I should’ve seen it.”
“I didn’t even feel it or see it,” Alex tried to placate her as he could see her oversight mortified her. “And there was no pain in or around my index finger. The pain was all centered around the top of my hand.”
“I’ve put you on a course of antibiotics,” Daniella told him. “You don’t have to take them today. The antibiotics were administered to you intravenously.”
Alex glanced at his hand. That’s what that bandaid was doing on his uninjured hand.
“Thank you.” Alex smiled at Daniella.
“You’re welcome,” Daniella said, taking his pulse. “You gave us quite a scare today.”
“I don’t even remember most of it,” Alex admitted. “One minute, I was eating breakfast. I took two ibuprofen because my hand and my head ached. I felt like I’d just fallen asleep when Dawn woke me up.”
“Having a fever and being delirious will do that to you,” Daniella told him. “After you’ve eaten, I’ll get Wally to run you a bath. Harley will help you.”
“I’ll be okay on my own,” Alex assured her.
“I think you’re going to find otherwise,” Daniella warned him.
Before Alex could respond, Harriet and Dawn walked back into the room.
“Look who’s finally awake,” Harriet said, carrying a tray. “I have this feeling of Deja Vu.” She lifted the tray.
Alex started to pull himself up, determined not to let a slight lightheadedness stop him. The broth smelled good, and his hunger pangs grew.
“Are you sure you didn’t put something in that breakfast?” Alex teased Harriet. “I’m never sick.”
“You have three women fawning all over you,” Dawn pointed out, fluffing his pillows. “I would’ve thought this would be an Alex Blackwell fantasy.”
“Maybe, but trust me in my head, I’m not sick!” He grinned as three pairs of eyes were rolled at him. Harriet placed the tray on his lap. “Did you really cook this? Or is it store-bought that you warmed up?”
“No, I can verify that Harriet cooked it from scratch,” Dawn told him.
“So can I,” Daniella backed Dawn up.
“I’ve put a big bowl aside for you to take home, Daniella,” Harriet told her.
“Thank you,” Daniella said gratefully to her. “Emily is going to love it.”
“How is Emily?” Alex asked, taking a sip of the broth. It was delicious.
“She’s doing a lot better than you,” Daniella said, raising her eyebrows. “I can’t put another cast on your hand, Alex.” She glanced at his injured hand. “I have to immobilize it with a splint so I can tend to the wound. Which means you’re going to have to come to the clinic every day until the wound has healed.”
“Okay!” Alex nodded, digging into the broth.
“For the next day or two, I’ll come here,” Daniella continued. “I don’t want you up and about for at least two days.” Her eyes narrowed. “I mean that, Alex.”
“What about the barbeque?’ Alex remembered they were supposed to be having a barbecue.
“That’s going to have to wait until your hand has healed, I’m afraid.” Daniella’s eyes and voice were stern, brooking no argument. “You were lucky that Harriet caught the infection in your hand and fever as quickly as she did, or you’d be in the hospital now.” Her eyes assessed Alex. “That’s where I would like you to be, but your guardians wouldn’t let me move you.” She smiled at Harriet and Dawn. “They thought you’d be more comfortable here.”
“I even got this cool heart monitoring machine,” Harriet said proudly. “Which Daniella rented to us.”
“I told you there was no need to do that.” Daniella sighed.
“Of course there was,” Dawn told her. “Harriet has told me that the clinic needs funding. You can’t just loan equipment out.”
“I know, but some of the elderly residents can’t afford to rent equipment,” Daniella told them.
Alex’s heart squeezed as he listened to how passionate Daniella was about helping people. And as he watched her, he felt himself falling for her more and more.
“They’re right,” Alex agreed with Harriet and Dawn. “Especially to someone like me who can afford it and maybe charge a little extra as a donation to help those who can’t afford it.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Harriet said, looking at him amazed. “We could hold a few charity balls in the Library in one of its function halls. I’ve noticed that the library also needs new computers so it can be a joint fundraiser.”
“I didn’t even know there were still libraries,” Alex admitted. “But I have to say the Plum Island Library is impressive.”
“Now I’m impressed that you’ve actually been into a library.” Harriet laughed at the black look Alex shot at her.
“Knock, knock,” Harley called from the door. “Hey, bud.” He walked into the room. “It’s good to see you’re finally awake.”
“Hey,” Alex greeted him. “I believe I have you to thank for keeping me fresh and clean.”
“And Wally,” Harley told him. “How’re you feeling?”
“Okay,” Alex lied.
His head was starting to hurt again, his hand was on fire, and he felt drowsy. But he was also hungry and in need of a shower.
“Are you done?” Harriet asked him. He could see the concern and understanding in her eyes. She knew him so well.
“Yeah,” Alex nodded. “I can’t eat anymore. But it was delicious.”
“I’m glad you liked it because you’re going to eat it often over the next few days,” Harriet told him with a smug smile. She took the tray. “We’ll leave you with Harley so you can have a bath and get some more rest.”
Dawn and Harriet left the room.
“I’ll be back in the morning to check on you,” Daniella promised. “If you need me during the night, just call Dawn or Harriet.”
“Or me,” Ethan’s voice echoed from the doorway. “Hey, brother.”
“Hi, Ethan,” Alex greeted his brother.
“I was here twice earlier,” Ethan told him. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” Alex lied again.
“I best get going,” Daniella interrupted. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
She left the room, and Alex suddenly felt cold without her there.
“I’ll run a bath,” Harley offered.
“I think I’d like to shower,” Alex told him. “And you guys don’t have to stay here. I’ll be fine.”
“No way!” Harley and Ethan said in unison.
“I tell you what,” Ethan said to Alex. “If you can stand and walk into the bathroom without feeling giddy, swaying, or having to hang onto something to get in there, we’ll leave you on your own.”
“Fine,” Alex accepted the challenge.
He pulled back his covers and ignored the rush of blood to his head while swinging his feet onto the floor.
“Yeah, and you can’t sit there taking a moment either,” Harley added to the challenge. “You have to stand right up.”
Alex glared at Harley before taking a breath and pushing himself up, immediately regretting the action as the world around him pulsed into darkness. He wasn’t sure if the floor was swaying or he was—maybe there was an earthquake—did Massachusetts have earthquakes?
“Alex!” Ethan’s voice called to him through the thick gray fog.
“I think there’s been an earthquake,” Alex spluttered before he could stop himself.
“I’ll run the bath,” Alex heard Harley say.
The cold fog started to clear, and the pulsing in his brain subsided as the blood rush slowly went away. When the world came back into focus, he realized his brother was holding him up.
“You’re ready to get up and strut out on your own, huh?” Ethan looked at him, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Take a few moments.” He stood with his hands clamped around Alex’s arms, steadying him. “Breathe through it.”
“Maybe I’ll just sit for a moment,” Alex suggested.
“Nope.” Ethan shook his head. “Walk. Slowly.”
Alex felt like an invalid and did not like it. Memories of another time and another fever flashed through his mind. He was determined that this time, he wouldn’t let the fever win. Alex was stronger than he had been when he was twenty and had contracted bacterial meningitis. This slight fever he was suffering from right now was a walk in the park compared to that.
“I’m good,” Alex assured his brother. “All stable. I shouldn’t have stood up so fast.”
“You shouldn’t be so pigheaded either, and let people help you, Alex,” Ethan scolded. “Even when you were delirious during today, you were trying to do things yourself.”
“I have to admit that you weren’t the best patient,” Harley added. “To a point where Ethan suggested we restrain you.” He grinned. “Your sister suggested a straight jacket.”
“Bailey knows about this?” Alex sighed resignedly and shook his head. “Great. Now, I’ll never live this down.”
“You weren’t going to get away with it anyway,” Ethan noted with a shrug. “You have Dawn and Harriet staying here.”
“If only you’d learned how to punch someone without breaking your hand.” Harley gave Alex a smug smile.
“I’ve been trying to teach him how to throw a proper punch for years,” Ethan told Harley. “But Alex was convinced he’d never have to punch anyone, and boxing was just a fitness regime for him.”
“I guess now you know.” Harley laughed as Alex’s glare darkened.
“While you guys are having fun at my expense, I’m going to take a bath,” Alex told them.
Twenty minutes later, Alex was sliding between the fresh sheets that Harriet and Dawn had kindly put on his bed for him. He sighed as he took the pain pills Dawn handed him, and he closed his eyes, making a mental note to do something nice for everyone who’d helped. This time, when Alex drifted to sleep, he guided his dreams to a picnic on the beach with a basket of fine food, champagne, and Daniella laughing in the sun with him. A dream he was hoping to make into a reality as soon as he felt better.